B.J. Burton is in his third year on the Old Dominion University athletic staff as the Director of Olympic Sports Marketing and Baseball Operations, as announced Jan. 31, 2013 by athletic director Dr. Wood Selig.

Burton will direct the marketing efforts for men's and women's soccer, wrestling and baseball at ODU, and oversee the day to day operations for the baseball program. He brings over 20 years of collegiate athletic marketing experience to ODU, having directed the marketing efforts at both VCU and Western Kentucky. As an Associate Athletic Director at VCU from 1995-2006, Burton negotiated the Alltel $2.4 million, 10-year naming right sponsorship for the basketball arena and increased sponsorship revenue by $500,000 in his last six years with the Rams.

"BJ is an outstanding addition to our marketing and external operations staff," says Selig. "He brings over two decades of DI sports marketing to ODU and will allow us to truly dedicate a seasoned professional to our highly successful Olympic Sports programs at ODU, many of which are nationally ranked and deserving of such marketing support."

From 2006-2011, Burton served as the Associate AD for Marketing and New Business Development at his alma mater, Western Kentucky University, overseeing all external revenue generation, before moving into athletic administration in 2011. He earned a B.S. degree in recreation and park administration from Western Kentucky in 1988.

"We are very excited to add BJ to our staff. Having worked with him at VCU and Western Kentucky, I have seen firsthand the expertise and passion he bring to the many important areas of college athletics," says baseball coach Chris Finwood. "BJ is a tireless worker and is a great advocate for our program."

After serving as Director of Special Projects and Assistant to the Athletic Director at VCU, he was named Assistant Athletic Director of Marketing and Promotions in 1995. Burton was promoted to Associate Athletic Director in 2000.

In his role with the Rams, Burton oversaw a staff of six that was responsible for marketing all 16 VCU sports. He was in charge of the design and sale of both corporate sponsorship and group sales packages, overseeing all television, print and radio advertising, and was part of the event management group for men's basketball, baseball and men's and women's soccer. Burton also managed the VCU/Charles Barkley Celebrity Golf Tournament -- which raised $30,000 annually for 11 years -- marketed outside events at the school's Stuart C. Siegel Center and oversaw the Rams' pep band, cheerleaders and dance team.

Burton helped negotiate a 10-year agreement with Alltel Communications for the naming rights of VCU's new basketball arena that opened in 1999, which generated $2.4 million in revenue, and worked with Pepsi Cola on an 11-year contract extension that will grossed over $1.1 million for the school's athletic department. Over his final seven years at VCU, the school's sponsorship revenue increased by more than $450,000.

In addition to serving as tournament director of seven NCAA championship events, Burton has also been a member of the NCAA Division I men's tennis committee for three years.

A four-year letterwinner for the Hilltoppers, Burton won more than 40 singles and 30 doubles matches during his WKU career. His efforts helped the Toppers win 39 matches during his career, which included posting a 10-5 mark his senior campaign.

A native of Bowling Green, KY., where he was a 1983 graduate of Russellville High School, Burton was a member of the Western Kentucky University tennis team from 1984-87 and earned a degree in recreation and park administration.